- Edwin Ochieng’ popularly known as Jumbo told TUKO.co.ke that he lost seven machines in a fire incident during the finance bill protests
- He was devastated after all his six employees who also depended on his shop remained jobless following the unfortunate incident
- He passed his sincere condolences to the three families that lost their relatives in the sudden fire accident
Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.
Nairobi – The protests against the finance bill in the CBD resulted in extensive damage to businesses.
Source: Original
Among those affected is Edwin Ochieng’, the owner of Jumbo Design, who is devastated after his shop was one of many at New Sunbeam Shopping Mall on Mfangano Street set ablaze.
The six-story mall was engulfed in flames during the #OccupyParliament protest on Tuesday, June 25.
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According to the designer, popularly known as Jumbo, he and his six employees were inside working on wedding dresses when the fire erupted on the ground floor.
They managed to escape from the third floor without salvaging anything.
“We were designing eight wedding gowns for an event scheduled on Sunday, June 30, along with attire for two SDA choirs, when we saw flames erupting from the ground floor. There were other two wedding orders. We swiftly leapt out from the third-floor window of our shop,” Jumbo said in an exclusive interview with TUKO.co.ke.
What did Jumbo lose in protest fire?
Jumbo lost six sewing machines and an overlock machine roughly valued at KSh 400,000 excluding all other items in the shop.
The designer mentioned that some of his customers whose attires were burnt down have also been in touch, seeking replacements.
“This has been a tremendous shock for me. My shop was my sole livelihood. Now, I am faced with starting anew from scratch, but I have absolutely nothing to begin with—all seven of my machines, the materials, and the clothes belonging to people – all gone. I don’t even possess a needle right now. Moreover, my six employees, who depended on the shop, are now unemployed.
Some of my clients have been understanding and agreed to wait until I can resume operations. I am still trying to persuade others, though I fully empathise with their frustration” he added.
He is now appealing for support from well-wishers to help him rebuild.
“I am thankful to God that I escaped without injury and I’m capable of returning to work as soon as I acquire the necessary resources. At this moment, I humbly appeal for assistance, even if it’s just two machines to start rebuilding,” Jumbo appealed.
Additionally, he expressed his condolences to the families of the three individuals who tragically lost their lives in the fire.
To help Jumbo, Reach him on 0723 091113.
‘Goons’ who disrupted Nairobi businesses demand full pay
In other news, two of the 50 alleged goons who disrupted businesses during protests claimed that they had not received their full pay.
According to them, their sponsors summoned them to a renowned government office where they were issued with batons.
Following their assignment, they expressed disappointment revealing that those who hired them were not picking up their calls.
What else you need to know about Nairobi protests
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke